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An escape incident earlier this year has landed the Karnes County jail on the state’s non-compliance watch list, according to a report issued recently by the Texas Commission on Jails Standards.

The TCJS hasn’t performed its annual on-site inspection of the Karnes County jail this year, but the February 9 escape and re-capture of 22-year-old Jason Cruz was enough to land them on the state’s naughty list.

"We’ve not been inspected, yet. We’re still on their probation list until they inspect us again and this time, they’re really going to look at us," Karnes County Chief Deputy A.C. Alonzo said. "We passed inspection last year without any difficulties. We’re going to pass (this year). Before the month is out, you will know whether we passed or not."

Karnes City’s once-depleted revolving loan fund is back in business.

Two account holders have paid off their loan from the city and one has had a judgment ruled against her in court over her delinquent loan.

The balance of the fund — which is state grant money given to the city to loan to prospective new businesses and the like — is at $9,606.

By Jason Clay Jansky

With recent heavy rainfall, large growths of vegetation, and the area heading away from cold weather, venomous snakes are out and about in Karnes County.

The Countywide received reports of three different coral snakes killed recently; two in Karnes City and one in Panna Maria.

The diamondback rattlesnake and copperhead also are active this time of year and residents should be on the lookout for all three kinds of snakes.

"It’s that time of year. You’re going to see them because it’s wet and it’s spring. It’s time to start seeing all snakes, especially your coral, your rattlesnakes, and your copperheads," Karnes County Agriculture Extension Agent Dennis Hale said

As the hot Texas summer months approach, the Karnes City Volunteer Fire Department is looking for a few dedicated individuals to help fight fires in the county.

The department averages a little over 20 firefighters regularly, but here lately the number of firefighters available during the day has decreased. Department Chief Charlie Malik said he wants to fill in those day hours with dedicated volunteers.

"The situation we’re facing more now than ever, even though our numbers are still around 20, so many of them are out of town (during the day). We’re getting less and less people that are around town on a regular basis," he said. "Evenings and nights are usually better whenever everybody gets off work and gets home. We’re not real bad off yet, we just don’t want to wait until it gets to the point that we’re really hurting."